Pipe flushing system



May 25, 1931- T. NIGBOR 2,081,204

PIPE FLUSHING SYSTEM Filed March 26, 1934 INVENTOR" BY, qpwb g.

ATTORN EYS Patented May 25, 1937 PIPE FLUSHING SYSTEM Thomas Nigbor, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor, by mesne assignments to Julius K. Egerman Application March 26,

6 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in a .pipe flushing system, having particular reference tothe cleansing of a beverage dispensing line.

It is the primary object of the invention to provide a system in which the introduction of a cleansing liquid into an air trap' utilizes the pressure of the trapped air to returnthe beverage from the line to its source, and automatically to control the introduction of the cleansing liquid into the line in place of the beverage which has been discharged therefrom. I

It is well known that pipes for dispensing beer and other beverages accumulate a slime which interiorly coats the pipes and coils and taints the beverage unless periodically removed either by steam or by cleansing agents in water solution.

Such cleansing is ordinarily accomplished by specialists at a considerable expense to the operator of the dispensing system, and it is the purpose of the present invention to provide mechanism operable so simply as to enable the owner of the system to effect his own cleaning asofteri as may be desired and without waste of beverage in the system. Other objects will appear from the following description of the invention.

In the drawing: I V Figure l is a diagrammatic view, partially in side elevation and partially in section, showing a system embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary detail taken in section on the plane indicated at 2-2 in Figure 1. Figure 3 is a detail viewin planof the control valve plug.

Like parts are identified by the same reference.

characters throughout the several views.

I have represented at D the usual pressure tank or drum communicating in the usual Way through a pipe I with a fitting or so-called rod 3 which supplies pressure head above a beverage in the container or barrel-B. The pressure head in the barrel forces the beverage to rise through the rod pipe 3 to the casing of a valve V and thence, if the valve is open, through a pipe 4 and coil 5 to the dispensing faucet F.

In the past the coating of deposit accumulating in the pipe 4 and coil 5 has been removed only by closing the stop cock S and disconnecting the pipe and coil and either cleaning them with steam or suitable chemical. To accomplish this the operative has had to work first at the bar and then at the container B, both in the preparation of the system for cleaning and in the restoration of the system to a. condition for dispensing, Since the bar and the barrel are ordinarily on different "floors it will be apparent that considerable work 1934, Serial No. 717,413

and inconvenience has been involved. In the present arrangement the Whole cleaning function is performed at thes'ervice bar, and cleaning may be done at the conclusion of each days work without. wasting the beverage in the pipes or materially inconveniencing the operator.

The tank T serves as a mixing chamber in which the chemical may be introduced if desired, and which, in any event, permits the compression by water pressure of a sufiicient amount of air toforce all beverage from the beverage dispensing line back tothe barrel B against the pressure head therein.

A valve casing 20 is attached tothe bottom of tank T and supplied with ordinary city water pressure through a water supply main W, such pressure being in excess of the pressure of gas in drum D. Through the valve casing 20 the water may be admitted to the tank T subject to the control of a valve plug 24 manually operated by: handle H. In the position of the plug shown in Figures 1 and 2, the duct 28a through theplug will afford communication between the water supply main W and the pipe 20b, which leads up- "wardly into tank T and is provided with'a baflle cap 25 having slotted outlet ports 25 for directing the incoming water toward the bottom of the tank, to be mixed with any chemical which may have been introduced into'the tank through pipe t and closure t therefor.

The rise of water in tank T compresses air which has previously been admitted to the tank through the check valvedvent 2| and the air is delivered from the top of the tank through pipe la and check valve 8 to the top of the beverage line adjacent the faucet. The pressure on the beverage at this point displaces all beverage from. the coil 5 and pipe 4 through valve casing V and the rod pipe 3' to the barrel B. 7

When tank T becomes nearly full of water the water lifts a float 22 to close a needle valve 23 and thus to prevent further flow through pipe la and check valve 8 to the top of the beverage dispensing line. The float is also connected with a valve plug 21 by means of a link 21' so that concurrently with the closing of needle valve 23 the float will open the valve 21 to permit water to-flow from tank T through an outlet pipe 25 leading back into valve casing 20. The duct 20cm plug 24 afiords communication in the Figure 2 position of the parts between outlet pipe 26 and pipe 13a which leads to the top of the'valve casing V.

The valve V has an upper seat It upon which a valve plug 15 normally seats under pressure of a light spring I9. The valve also includes a memher l5 which may be seated against the seat H, as shown in Figure 1. The valve plug l 5 is guided for reciprocation by ribs l8 of the casing. In

Figure 1 the valve plug I5 is held open by the pressure of water arriving through pipe l3a, such water maintaining plug l5 seated to prevent the water from passing downwardly through the rod into the barrel. Thus, the water is forced through valve casing V into a beverage supply line 4 and will be trapped therein at a pressure equalling the city water pressure until the faucet F is open, whereupon the whole pipe line may be filled with water, the faucet being closed when the water reaches the faucet or at any subsequent time. The water, with or without a chemical dissolved therein, may be allowed to remain in the pipe line over night.

To reconstitute the system for dispensing beverage from barrel B, it is only necessary for the operator to turn the handle ll of valve plug 24 to an upright position in which it is shown in Figure 3. This cuts off pipe W from any further communication with tank T and brings the L-shaped port 20a in plug 24 into a position where it affords communication between pipe 201) and a pipe 28 which leads to a drain. The contents of tank T are now completely drained off and replacedbyair admitted through vent opening 2!. The relief of pressure in tank T permits the spring I9 to lift the valves l5 and 15', the former being closed and the latter open, to place the barrel in communication with the beverage supply line 4. The supply line remains full of the cleansing liquid, but it has been found that there will be little or no mixture of the water with the beer over long periods of time. Substantially no mixing whatever will occur if the faucet F is opened immediately to allow the head of pressure in barrel B to force out the cleansing liquid from the system. As soon as the color of the liquid discharged from the faucet shows that the beer has arrived at the faucet the faucet may be closed or the usual glasses may immediately be filled therefrom. The system is set for beverage dispensing as soon as the valve I I is adjusted to its Figure 3 position without any other act on the part of the operator.

The upper and lower connections to the tank T may be shrouded by covers T and T" for the sake of appearance, if desired. The tank T will ordinarily be so placed adjacent the barrel that its valve handle II will be convenient to the operator of faucet F. The cleaning of the system involves only the adjustment of the handle II to the position shown in Figures 1 and 2, whereupon the beverage will be displaced from the system back to the barrel and cleansing liquid will be admitted to the bottom of the system, where it can find its way into the coils upon the opening of the faucet F for a brief period. Restoration of the valve handle I l to the position shown in Figure 3 will restore the system to condition for dispensing, and any cleansing liquid in the system will be delivered through the faucet F upon the initial opening thereof.

Having described this invention what is claimed and desired to protect by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A pipe flushing system comprising the combination with a liquid line including a pipe and a faucet, of a tank with means affording communication between the upper portion of the tank and a portion of said line adjacent said faucet, means for supplying liquid under pressure to said tank and including a separate connection from said means to a portion of said line remote from said faucet, means for closing communication between the top of said tank and the portion of said pipe adjacent said faucet, and means normally closing said connection and including mechanism for the opening of said connection to admit water to said line remote from said faucet when the communication of the upper portion of the tank with said line is interrupted.

2. A pipe flushing system comprising a liquid line including a pipe and a faucet, a supply tank comprising an air trap, means for admitting a flushing liquid to said tank to compress air therein, means for admitting the compressed air to the portion of said line adjacent said faucet for the displacement of liquid from said pipe, and means for substantially simultaneously excluding the flushing liquid from access through the second mentioned means to said line portion and admitting flushing liquid at another point to a portion of said pipe from which fluid has been expelled by said air.

3. A pipe flushing system comprising the combination with a line comprising a pipe and a faucet, of a second line communicating with the first adjacent the faucet, a chamber with an upper portion with which said second line communicates, water supply means communicating with said chamber and provided with a third line communicating with said first line at a point remote from said faucet, means for controlling the flow of air and water through said second and third lines respectively upon the admission of water to the said chamber, whereby air compressed in said chamber by water admitted thereto passes through said second line to said first mentioned line to expel the contents of said first mentioned line away from said faucet and toward the point of communication of the first line with said third line, said controlling means alternately interrupting the flow of such air and admitting water through said third line to flow through said first line toward said faucet in a direction opposite to the original movement of air therein.

4. A pipe flushing system comprising the combination with a liquid line including a pipe and a faucet, of a tank having means afi'ording communication between the upper portion of the tank and a portion of the line adjacent the faucet, means for supplying liquid under pressure to said tank and including a separate connection from said means to a portion of the line remote from the faucet, a float in the tank provided with a valve for closing communication between the top of the tank and the portion of the pipe adjacent the faucet upon the filling of the tank with liquid, and valve means normally closing said connection and secured to said float to be opened when the communication with said tank and said first mentioned line portion is cut off.

5. A pipe flushing system comprising a liquid line including a pipe having an admission portion and an adjacent branch for cleansing liquid, a valve operable by liquid in said branch for closing communication between said pipe and said admission portion, a faucet with which said pipe communicates, a supply tank comprising an air trap and having a check valved connection communicating with said pipe adjacent said faucet, means for admitting a flushing liquid to the tank to compress air therein for delivery through said connection to said pipe adjacent the faucet for the displacement of liquid from Said pipe through the admission portion thereof, means for excluding flushing liquid from said connection, and means operable following the displacement of liquid from said pipe for admitting flushing liquid through said branch to actuate said first mentioned valve to cut oif communication between said pipe and the admission portion thereof and to provide for a flow of flushing liquid through said pipe toward said faucet.

6. A pipe flushing system comprising a liquid line including a pipe having an admission portion and an adjacent branch for cleansing liquid, a valve operable by liquid in said branch for closing communication between said pipe and said admission portion, a faucet with which said pipe communicates, a supply tank comprising an air trap and having a check valved connection communicating with said pipe adjacent said faucet, means for admitting a flushing liquid to the tank to compress air therein for delivery through said connection to aid pipe adjacent the faucet for the displacement of liquid from said pipe through the admission portion thereof, means for excluding flushing liquid from said connection, means Operable following the displacement of liquid from said pipe for admitting flushing liquid through said branch to actuate said first mentioned valve to cut off communication between said pipe and the admission portion thereof and to provide for a flow offlushing liquid through said pipe toward said faucet, and a float in said tank connected with the respective means for the operation thereof.

THOMAS NIGBOR. 

